Improvement in folding cots



El. W. FYLER.

No. 174,6Z1L, Patented March 14, 1876.

lllll WITN ESS E5.

M' 4MM/Aw N4 PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

EDWIN W. FYLER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LUOIEN W.PALMER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLD |NG COTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,624, dated March14, 1876; application filed l july 6, 1575. y

To all whom it may concern:

- Beit known that I, EDWIN W. FYLER, of the city and county ofProvidence, in the State of RhodeIsland, have invented a new andImproved Folding Oot, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 shows one oftheside bars when folded.

The purpose of my invention is to furnish a cot-bedstead, capable ofbeing eompactly folded, so as to occupy-small space, and to be easilytransported. Such a cot is useful in camp-equipage, in hotels, and otherplaces where sleeping accommodations need suddenly to be improvised.

The characteristic feature of my invention is the making ofthe sidebarsseparately, and dividing them into two pieces for thc purpose offolding. The legs also fold against the bars, the canvas is rolled uponthe cross-pieces, and the Whole is thus brought into small compass. Icut the side bar A transversely at lthe middle'point,and fasten theseparts by the hinge a. At the ends of the bar, as also at the place ofdivision, I put the legs B B, which are hinged thereto, as shown at b b.A brace, C, is pivotedupon each of the legs and hooks upon the pin c onthe bar, thus giving firmness -tO the structure, and keeping the legs inposition securely. It' desired, ad.- ditional firmness may be secured bv means of rods or other braces to connect and hold tevgether thecentral legs. The canvas D is made with a wide hem at both ends, throughwhich pass the cross-bars E E to form the head and foot of the cot,respectively. These crossbars are fitted with projecting eye-pieces d d,which hook upon the studs ce on the corner legs. When the side bars havebeen properly mounted the cross-bars carrying the canvas are locked on,as described, by slightly raising the free ends of the bars A A.

AThe frame thusformed, consisting of the side bars A A and cross-bars EE, serves, in combination, to strain` the canvas D to such a tensionthat it becomes a firm and elastic bottom for the cot. The side bars,being hinged, as described, act as knee-joints, by which a very greatleverage is obtained to stretch the canvas lengthwise, and so the canvasis drawn more tight] y thanis possible by means of rollers or otherdevices now in use.

If desired, instead of a hem, as described,

the canvas and cross-bars may be held together by straps and buckles atshort intervals crossw'ise. Either of these modes is valuable, asrendering the strain upon the canvas much less than would resultfromhdirectly nailing it to the cross-bars.

I therefore claim as a novel and usefulins )'elition, and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. The combination of the separate and. di-

vided side bars A A, provided with hinges a,

b, folding legs B B, and braces-G (l, canvas D, and cross-bars E E,locked in place, as described, all made as and for thepurpose specified.

2. The side bars A A, hinged at a a, in combination with the cross-barsE E and canvas D, the cross-bars resting against the` ends of thesidebars, and passing through the hem of the canvas, substantially asdescribed, whereby the side bars act as knee-jointed 1evers to stretchthe canvas, as set forth.

EDWIN W. FYLER. Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. W. HALLETT, WARREN R. PEEcE.

